Brutus's story begins shortly after his election as a Quaestor in the elections of 643 AUC. Lucius Junius, always chasing after fame and glory for the good of the family, chose as his the rebellious and under pirate threat province of Asia in an effort to accomplish some military achievement of worth - and capture some loot and slaves to repay his heavy loans! He also took care on the religious offices, applying successfully for a place in the College of Augurs as well as he tended his economic condition by purchasing land in Italy and abroad to strengthen his incomes.
Soon after the elections were over, Brutus made his first appearance before the Senate where he asked for two legions and a fleet to defeat both pirates and rebels -successfully as well, which was the first step to many successful legislative items. So far, so good everyone though of the ambitious Quaestor! However, after postponing his departure and after crossing Corvus in the Senate on the matter of a Numidian delegation when Brutus rose in the defence of Tribune Tiberius Gallus who threatened to expel them with the use of his veto on the Senate's processions after Aemilius Corvus mentioned his humble origins in his effort to silence Gallus. Of course, such a defiance towards the patrician-origin Corvus didn't got away unpunished, when the Senator in turn accused Brutus of stalling deliberately in Rome while his province burnt. Having no alternative than to go at once, with the fear of being named a coward, Brutus left Rome -making his will speedily, something that caused a new round of laughter for the dramatics Lucius Junius employed - on the beginnings of Aprilius, not before he had made an appearance in the courts against Quintus Vitulus on the case of "Asinus vs Asinus", which he lost.
Having arrived in Asia on early Maius, his first orders by Proconsul Calpurnius Bestia were to go and investigate whether or not the Rhodian allies have produced the navy his Senatum Consultum required, namely 40 triremes, 20 liburnae and 5 quinqueremes. Arriving in Rhodes during Maius and after bullying some Greek noblemen around, Lucius Junius found the fleet ready for action. Following a short but violent interrogation of prisoners, he discovered that the main base was hidden in the island of Samos and he left Rhodes soon after to defeat the pirates.
Alas, after an ill-fated night manoeuvre and the discovery that the prisoners had lied to him, Lucius Junius found himself in an impossible position. Having lost a part of the fleet to Neptune and the nearby rocks and having captured less than a hundred hostages, Brutus was in deep trouble. However, his brilliance and wickedness showed at precisely that moment as Brutus claimed the disaster for victory by sending the heads of the crucified pirates back to Rome. He also made sure to conceal the real number of his enemy's destroyed and captured ships to the crews and paid some good denarii from his own treasury to boost the amount of gold they found in the fake base. Everyone was happy!
Unfortunately for Brutus though, his troubles were just beginning. Yonni Deppulous, the dreaded pirate captain of the Middle Sea (the Mediterranean), promptly shacked Rhodes seeing that the Roman fleet had abandoned the city defenceless. Brutus, returning to see the once proud merchant city in ruins, was greeted by hostility by the local nobles he had once bullied and now found himself at their mercy; particularly at the hands of Governor-Archon Agathocles who despised Brutus for his "vulgar" ways. However, Brutus isn't the man to be bullied around easily; he immediately ordered the Governor's death, before he could manage to file a report to Rome and destroy Brutus's career, an action that brought thereafter shame to Lucius Junius as he genuinely regretted giving the order. With the Governor-Archon dead and the nobles disillusioned as to the cause of the disaster, Brutus found himself again on level ground, departing quickly to Asia to finish off at least the rebels.
Arriving Asia during the last quarter of the year and receiving orders to recapture the rebel fortress of Smyrna using all three legions he had asked for, Brutus began vast siege works in November cutting Smyrna off by land not once but twice; Lucius Junius, aware of the danger that the rest 5,000 rebels posed in Ephesus had a second wall constructed around the first, facing outwards. A few weeks later, in December, the assault of the city begun. With no reinforcements and vastly outnumbered, the defendants had no chance of victory and lost the battle. Brutus had captured the city of Smyrna, taking 300 prisoners with him which he immediately sold to the slave traders.
Now, Brutus has set an elaborate plan to draw out the last remaining rebels into attacking the city of Pergamum. At the moment it seems that the plan is going to turn out well for the Roman forces...
Chapter II: In the aftermath of Pergamum
Three thousand dead, one thousand and seven hundred captured was what Brutus made of the Battle of Pergamum. Even though the enemy was tough to beat and resolved to stay on their positions and hold their hill with everything they got, Roman military prowess and a good encircling move from the cavalry won the day for Rome! In the aftermath of the battle, the fate of the captured rebels was sealed - slavery. Much cash would flow in Brutus's pockets and the men's pockets and the Senate's pockets. Everyone was happy; let's get away from the battlefield...
"...so call the field to rest, and let's away...to part the glories of this happy day." Tarconicus grammed me. Nothing more suitable, I think, that this verse.
And how much more appropriate if you consider that a happy day is always followed by a less happy one. And that was the story for Brutus's life too: the very next day of the victory, Proconsul Bestia asked for the young Quaestor to appear before him. Not good.
-----------------------
"Here I am. How can I be of service, Proconsul?" Brutus stood there, dusty, dirty, before Bestia in the grand office in Pergamum. In fact to call it an office would be a disservice. It was more like a throne room. A year in Asia had suited Bestia, who had taken to the luxuries of the East.
"Well, Quaestor. I am so glad you have found the time to see me at last."
"I ... "Brutus tried to answer but was cut off curtly.
"I do not need your explanations, Lucius. I need your report. I have overseen many achievements in Asia since becoming Proconsul, and this is the greatest. I am thinking I shall call myself Magnus after this triumph. Or perhaps Asiaticus? Hmm, I shall think on it.
"Well, Quaestor, I'm waiting. Your report please. Leave nothing out. I want my letter to the Senate to be full and thorough. By the time I return to Rome after next year I want my triumph!"
-----------------------
This was what it was said by Bestia. Do you want to know how Brutus reacted?
-----------------------
"Well, Quaestor, I'm waiting. Your report please. Leave nothing out. I want my letter to the Senate to be full and thorough. By the time I return to Rome after next year I want my triumph!"
Brutus could not believe his eyes. Nor his ears for that matter. Here was he, taken all the heat of war, with the price of defeat above his neck ready to fall like an executioner's axe, hearing this inbred pathetic coward -- this dog who dared to call himself a Roman as he played the God to the Asians -- claiming his triumph for his. HIS VICTORY! No, that was too much for Brutus to take in. He would rather cut out his heart and eat it before the Proconsul than have this fucking coward claim his success for his own! He! When he didn't move out of his throne room.
"Permition to speak freely, sir?" the Quaestor asked Bestia casually, hiding his discontent.
"Granted, of course. Now, give me your report." Bestia said, eager to hear of his accomplishments. "Oh, wait to call in for the scribe. Let's not waste any more time to claim my victory."
"You won't be needing him, sire." Brutus said with a dark smile. "And send everyone away; what I wish to tell you is very private."
"All right then." Bestia agreed sending away his slaves. "Well, I guess you can repeat it to him, too. Now, go on. What was my plan?".
"Sire. Firstly, the Senate already knows of the victory."
"How so? Oh! You took the initiative, of course! I have forgotten that incident with the fleet. Well, did you praised well enough my command abilities? I will be disappointed with anything less."
"Sir, the Senate knows of *my* victory over the rebels. They have been given a cut of the spoils, too. In my name."
"You did what?" Bestia asked, trying to control his rage. That went too much for the Proconsul! It was alright for Brutus to claim a minor naval victory; but this brilliant achievement? He couldn't stand it!
"You listen to me now, Bestia. *I* have endured unaccountable setbacks; *I* have been doing your errants in this fucking shit hole for the entire year, unquestionably! *I* have endured all that men and sea could do to destroy me - and here *I* stand still!" Brutus's voice was intimidating, something that in addition to his full armour would make him look terrifying. He slowly begun to approach Bestia.
"Now. Do you honestly believe that I will let someone like you take *my* victory away? There's going to be only one who shall walk in Triumph back in Rome and that man will be *me*, you hear me? *ME*!" Brutus said, grabbing Bestia from the toga.
"And should you pathetic coward dare to cross me, I will sue you in Rome for starting this rebellion by overtaxing Rome's citizens!" he said, releasing the Proconsul.
"Y-you have no proof of that!" Bestia said, swallowing.
"Proof is irrelevant in your case, Bestia. I have a rebelling province, money enough to bribe every man and woman of Pergamum to testify against you and your little palace all around you. And don't tell me that you trust your slaves to testify in your favour when they will be tortured? You *can't* be that stupid! And it probably never crossed your mind too, judging from the illiterate brute you are, but your fellow citizens will hate you for emulating the Asian Kings should they find out of the luxury you have accumulated here; now, I ask you Bestia, do you want us to be friends or enemies?"
-----------------------
Now, intimidating last year's Consul isn't a very bright idea, judging that Brutus is a mere Quaestor but it is absolutely necessary. So, after this little incident more troubles can be seen gathering in the Horizon; if anything, Brutus's life will be one to remember.
Chapter III: Claiming the victory
==============================
Senate of the Roman Republic
==============================
A young servant run through the session where L. Vipsanius Agrippa was standing to join the division of the House. Avoiding the muscular Roman in the last minute, the young slave continued his run, manoeuvring between the various Senators who were trying to vote, disturbed by the outsider. Once he finally reached the big man himself, Hortensius, sitting uncomfortably in his small curule seat, the servant dropped to his knees and whispered something to the Consul.
"This servant, gentlemen, just informed me of a gift awaiting outside the Senate's doors. It is from Brutus, he says" in the hearing of the name, the Senators exclaimed "Not his heads again!". "Shall I bring the gift in?" Hortensius asked, almost laughing at the reaction of his fellow Senators. Once the order to the servant had been given, the young man jogged down the narrow alley of the Senate House again. "Hey, watch were you stepping on, you wretch!". "What's that dark dots on my new shoes? SHIT". "Next time he tries to cross by me, I'll tackle him down! By Jove, I swear it!".
The gift was an unusual large box, even larger than the boxes with the heads Brutus had sent months earlier. "What? He brought us the whole bodies this time?" a back-bencher Senator joked. The Senators, laughing, paid no attention to the context of the box which had opened in front of them. Only Hortensius had seen it, and stepping down with great difficulty from his consular chair, he ordered for silence in the House. "Look, you fools!" he said, pointing in the box filled with gold pieces inside.
"My master, Lucius Junius Brutus, gifts this box to the Senate and People of Rome, informing you that he has cleansed Asia from pirates and rebels."
"He pleaded that you do not take this report as his official one, because he will provide that in person once he is back in the City, but as a quick note to your honours so that you know that you have one less province to worry about."
This is what happened today in Brutus's life. Now that the Quaestor has claimed victory only for himself with no mention to Proconsul Bestia what-so-ever, it is obvious that he has a guaranteed enemy for life. However, by gifting 200,000 Denarii to the Senate, he had also made some powerful allies and supporters who see in the young Quaestor the next rising star of the Republic.
Chapter IV: Traveling back to Rome
=========================
Central Apulia, Italy
=========================
Three litters and several servants, citizens and guards were moving slowly on the Via Appia, the long road connecting Southern Italy to the city of Rome. On the first litter the now Plebeian Aedile of Rome, Lucius Junius Brutus, reading a book on Epicureanism. On the other two, a pair of noble Romans, Tiberius Claudius Marcellus and Marcus Servilius Ahala were moving almost side by side, trading gossip from Asia and Rome. Behind them were servants carrying goods both acquired from war and gifts, hangers-on who wished to bid Brutus welcome and had traveled to Brindisium to await his arrival and lastly some of Brutus's guards.
"Come on, already! How long will it take me to get to my House? Faster, I say!" Brutus ordered the servants, running out of patience. Having lost a year out of Rome, Lucius Junius wanted nothing more than to be back in the City; to dine with his friends and family, to walk down the Forum, to attend the Senate House, to feel an alive politician once more! Lucius knew that his fame wouldn't be made in the fields of battle as many another Patrician or Plebeian Senator; no, his fame would be made in the courts and in the Senate House. He knew that he had the stuff of a great politician, not the skills of a great general and after this long term, he had come to terms with this previously disturbing fact. And nothing could please him more than to be back in the political arena.
His term had provided him with a life-worth lesson; that he should know where his weaknesses laid and where his strenghts were. Once back in Rome, Brutus was planning to make use of the lesson he was given by Fortuna. Once the bill to award himself (proposed by Pomponius Matho only out of humility) the golden torgues had passed, he would fuel a chain of legislations -both in the Senate and in the Rostra- which would both improve his standing with the quality and his standing with the rank and file. And then, at the ending of the year, he would host the most luxurious games ever held in the entire history of Rome! The ideal finishing mere months before the elections; the Praetorship would be in his pocket!
Brutus smiled confidently and delved once more in his book of Epicureanism. A good politician must be well studied, he thought to himself, repeating the old lesson of Servilius Ahala.
Chapter V: Plotting
=======================================
Mons Palatinus, House of Lucius Junius
=======================================
The walk through the streets of Rome was long and tiring. Entering the City in the worst possible moment, when a lex - and a radical one as Brutus managed to make out after walking by the Rostra! - was presented to the People. Screaming, chanting, ecstatic, the Plebeians and Proles gathered underneath the podium of the Rostra were making, as usual, a brilliant fuss of the important event. Showing their support to the upstart politician, Tiberius Caesar, who from above promised the needful land and gold, equality and respect, the Plebes were screaming their lungs out thus creating a sound unheard of since the time of Tiberius Gracchus.
"What extraordinary noises these people make when they are happy!" Servilius Ahala noticed, in his usual patrician snobbish way. However, Lucius wasn't as thrilled to see the sight; it was obvious to all that the man speaking was nothing more than a demagogue -say, is it a coincedental event that he is also named Tiberius? Be that as if may, Lucius decided to pay some attention to this particular man in the future; he might be dangerous - or useful. And, having some legislations already planned out, Brutus needed the mob. For now, at least.
Making their way up the Forum towards the Palatine Hill, Lucius stopped a moment outside the building of the Senate. In an act of respect, he made a slight bow to the building itself and whispered that the Senate would soon bow down to his political brilliance. Just wait and see, Brutus thought. Wait and see. Taking his eyes from the great building, Lucius picked up the pace once more, with his guard and friends following him close-by. Walking up the hill, Brutus stopped occasionally to receive the congratulations of several citizens, declaring their admiration to the young Aedile. Soon, he was home.
Opening the door with the usual pray to Janus, a servant greeted Lucius Junius back into his paternal property. In the Atrium waited some of Brutus's captured servants, all on their knees as a sign of submission to the Roman. Passing by them, his eyes fixed on the paternal masks made of wax which were displayed grandly in the Atrium, Brutus made his way into his study with Servilius Ahala and Tiberius Marcellus.
Dismissing the servant who was cleaning the wooden table, Lucius collapsed on a grand chair while his guests were doing the same. Soon after, the House's steward entered the office, declaring the morning gathering of clients outside Brutus's house.
"Tell them to wait", he ordered. "And have the cook deliver them some refreshments; and some figs and cheese. Whatever we have ready."
"Yes, Master." the steward said, bowing deeply.
"Tell me" Brutus cought him just before exiting the study, "is Anneus Labeo here, too?".
"Yes, Master. Vibius Priscus and Pomponius Matho is here as well."
"Good. Bring them in, now" Brutus ordered. "And don't let anyone approach the study in hearing range, not even other servants. On your life."
"I won't fail you, Master!" the steward protested.
"Good. Now, off you go."
The three men left on the study, looking each other grimly. They knew that whatever Brutus had to tell them, it wouldn't be pretty. After Anneus Labeo, Pomponius Matho and Vibius Priscus entered the study and after making sure that there wasn't anyone hiding to collect gossip that could be ruinous to Brutus, the Aedile had the men present vow an oath never to tell to anyone what he was about to reveal to them. Swearing all to Juno Reggina, touching the great marble statue of the Goddess standing mighty in the far corner of the room, Brutus's friends awaited in agony for the grave news. After some hour when Brutus had delivered a full and detailed report of the year passed to his friends, a long silence befell the company.
"Damnation." Pomponius Matho exclaimed in despair. "Did you really did all thismerda?". Servilius was white from shock, his jaw hanging about.
"Why on Juno's c**nt you blackmailed a Proconsul?" he almost whispered. "Don't you know that when a man is that high, he can destroy you only by a stoke of his fingers?".
"Lucius, legally speaking--"
"Enough, enough! No more winning, thank you very much!" Brutus said in anger. "I know."
Silence again.
"So what do we do, oh Brutus?" Marcellus asked.
"We shall be careful."
"And what if the Rhodians send a comitee to Rome?" Pomponius Matho inquired.
"You can get prosecuted!" Anneus Labeo exclaimed in horror. "What should we do? If they prosecute you before you get elected for Praetor, you would lose both rank and money for nothing. You will be poverised!"
"Anneus, my dear friend, a prosecution is the least of my worries right now." Brutus said enigmatically. Once the rest of the company were starring at him in question, he explained that a prosecution could be easily avoided or won - he was a war hero for the People of Rome. Such men, heroes, were always in the sympathy of the jury; and Lucius could always pass the heat to Calpurnius Bestia, thus bringing him down. He told them that it was the Imperium wielder that was supposed to be in control of the army, not some pay clerk as a Quaestor. The fact that the Proconsul passed his command to him was an act of cowardice and as such, Bestia would be immediatelly despised by the jury and the audience. Add that to some suspicion about causing the rebellion by overtaxing the populace - how did Bestia constructed that magnificent palace of his in Pergamum, anyway? - and he would be easily acquitted. No harm done, Brutus told them.
"Then what is the problem?" Matho asked, seeing the dark glance in Brutus's face.
"Bestia may not come directly against me but wait his time to destroy me more effectively." Brutus replied.
"He can and he will." Servilius murmured angrily.
"I think that the first to strike will be the winner on this snake-fight." Anneus Labeo noticed. At the sound of these words, Brutus's face changed its expression to one of genuine delight.
"Bona Dea! No, Lucius, no!" Priscus exclaimed almost begging Brutus.
"What?" Marcellus asked Priscus.
"He had that expression in exact when he ordered the governor of Rhodes killed, that's what!" Priscus replied. "You won't get away with this easily, Lucius; I beg to to reconsider. He's a Consular and above that, a Roman citizen!"
"Don't be so sure that he got away with the first one either" Servilius said in ill humour.
"Gentlemen, gentlemen. You misunderstood my intention." Brutus begun. "I am thinking strategically. You said that the first to strike will be the winner, have you not?" he turned to Labeo.
"I did--"
"And, Servilius, do you think that with a good prosecution, Bestia can be brought down to his knees, yes?"
"Indeed, he--"
"Then that is what we'll do. We shall construct the case and give it in private to some prosecutor of reknown. If he wins the case, we are free of one foe; if he fails, Bestia will be more inclined to destroy him than us!"
"That may be so but what fool would take a prosecution like this? We have no evidence of either overtaxing Asia or botching the naval campaign and that is what you must be acquitted from, remember?" Servilius noticed.
"We can collect evidence. Priscus, I want you to go back to Asia with Labeo and start gathering information and evidence against the Proconsul; we must put the blame of Rhodes's destruction on Bestia alone."
"How?" Matho asked.
"Legally Brutus had no imperium to command the navy" Labeo said, "so we can claim that he was taking orders from the Proconsul. If that is so, and in truth it is, we can also claim that the plan was of the Proconsul's. That will take all fault from Brutus!"
"Further," Brutus added, "the Proconsul took money from me; we can say that he blackmailed me in giving him a share of the spoils. We have no evidence to put the blame solely on Bestia but neither has he to put the blame solely on us! If we come to the courts, we can destroy him and we shall be left intact!"
"He'll see your plot through; what do you think he will consider that you are doing if he finds out that two of your agends are asking arround in his province?" Servilius protested.
"I've seen this through. I am sending Labeo over here with a proposal of reconsiliation" Brutus said, smiling slightly. "Labeo will present Bestia with an offer; I'm offering my hand to Bestia in friendship, proposing him that in return of his friendship I shall motion him to be awarded a Triumph for his efforts for the Republic!". All were left astonished, looking at Brutus with their jaws handing in a feeling between awe and terror of the young man's cunning.
"Good, eh?" Brutus laughed.
After the meeting had adjourned, Brutus exited the room to greet his clients. Giving them a warm handshake, his eyes locked on theirs in an image of genuine interest, Brutus asked each and everyone of the men present of their health, their families, their fortunes, their needs. Hearing gossip and excanging wishes of well-being, Brutus joked that he needed all the luck he could find to make it through the year, a statement that scared Servilius to boot, only with Brutus adding that Aedileship was a tough business!
"Master" the house's steward interrupted him as he was talking of a back-bencher Senator. "An invitation to join Tiberius Julius Caesar for dinner after the Games has arrived. What should I answer?"
Chapter VI: The secret letter of Bestia or How the Proconsul check mated Lucius Brutus!
The following letter has been dispatched to Rome from the Proconsul’s office in Ephesus. Addressed to the Princeps Senatus, both Censors and both Consuls, it reads as follows:
Greetings and good tidings. As you have no doubt heard, the rebel scum in Asia have been eradicated. What you have not heard, however, is how the war was won.
I realize that my young Quaestor, Lucius Junius Brutus, dispatched a brief summary of the final battle in the long, arduous campaign. I am informed from associates in Rome that, contrary to what he reported to me, Brutus has claimed the majority of the glory for himself. First and foremost, I realize there is little glory in putting down rebellions. They are mean messes. Second, I wish to set the record straight.
The campaign was, of course, led by myself. As per usual routine, I delegated certain tasks to my lieutenants in various parts of the country, including but not limited to Brutus. Having combated the enemy around the entire countryside for many months, I retired to Ephesus with a single legion to guard against a reported enemy army. The other two legions were given the simple task of taking Smyrna, having been invested with siege works. Brutus was a part of the command at Smyrna, it is true. However, the rebels escaped the city and made for Pergamum. At the head of the three legions once more, as can be attested to by several of my lieutenants, we closed in on the rebels and destroyed them once and for all.
As part of his duties as Quaestor, being primarily financial in nature, I gave Brutus the task of selling the captured into the slave market, with the intention of contributing this booty to Rome, and to Asia to rebuild her ruined infrastructure. However, upon review of the records, it seems that Brutus absconded with the majority of the funds raised. Some of the funds he forwarded on to Rome, some 200,000 denarii as my associates at the treasury tell me. He also paid, privately, most of the legionnaires, no doubt to shore up his flimsy story of glory. According to my calculations, at least 400,000 denarii has gone missing, no doubt even now heading for Rome in the wagons of Brutus and his conspirators.
Shortly before he left the country, without leave, I inquired as to the whereabouts of these missing funds. In turn, he drew a sword and threatened my life. Having trusted him, and giving him a private audience to avoid any embarrassment, I was unable to restrain him. He fled the scene, and the country, immediately.
Of course, actions in this matter are yours to determine. I would suggest, however, as his superior and a fellow Consular, that he be placed under house arrest until such a time as you graciously determine his punishment for these multiple, heinous crimes.
SIGNED,
L. Calpurnius Bestia, Proconsule Asia
Chapter VII: Strike first or be the first struck
=============================
Mons Palatinus, Rome
=============================
The night kept going and still Brutus was pacing back and forth in his bedroom. He knew that he wasn't out of trouble; how could he be? He had made in the face of the Proconsul of Asia an enemy for life, some foe that wouldn't stop hunting him until either of them was dead or so disgraced that he wouldn't be able to recover in politics ever again. Servilius had warn him that Bestia would not let such a challenge lying down - he would try to bring the young Aedile down. But how? And most importantly, when?
Brutus was pacing endlessly up and down, his mind becoming more and more troubled. He could pictured Bestia talking to the Rhodians, hearing what happened to the island and then revealing it to the Senate; could he really found out what has happened? He could picture men of the Rhodian navy talking more than freely, sealing his disaster. Could they have really talked to Bestia? Hundreds of possible scenarios were passing through his mind, all ending with his humiliation. How could he save himself this time? Brutus realized one of the most important lessons a politician could learn; in the long run, heritage had nothing to do with success. Social status, fame, glory, gravitas and respect had to be won over and over again by each passing generation; ultimately what made a man successful was whether or not he outdone his Father and Brutus now was faced with no more than a dilema. If he continued with this feud, which unfortunately he had started in the first place, he might lose it all. Rank, position, dignity; if he did not, he would provide an easy target to his enemies, a target that they could destroy with a nod. His very existence relied on his will to descend into a fight with a Proconsul, a fight that he would have to fight until he or Bestia was destroyed. But how would he got out of it on top? Sometimes, he thought, getting into the fight is the only way to see how will you get out of it in a better shape than the opposition. His mind was of one opinion; he would risk it all to bring Bestia down - he had to.
Pacing with a slower rate this time, Brutus walked outside his bedroom into the deserted from servants home. Everyone was asleep; good. Reaching the Atrium, he gazed for some time the wax images of his ancestors, glowing read by the little candle burning behind them. What nice image that made! He thought of his mask hanging from up there, as his Father's and Grandfather's did, with his sons looking at it for guidance. And then it hit him. Touching the sides of his head with both hands, Brutus let a low gigle escape his mouth. The gigle after a while became a hysteric low volumed laughter, bringing tears in Brutus's eyes. He had it; the way to save himself from disaster! Pacing again at a maddening ryth, Brutus cicled the medium-sized garden time and again, thinking the plan he had conceived in a moment of desperation. His face was bright with delight, then astonished and turned white. He always remembered that in times of great pressure, when he had to make a decision that would alter him forever or whenever his entired future was hanging from the success of his next move, his mind suddenly produced an answer; and it worked to his benefit, admirably. And then he remembered the vow he had made before Juno in the shores of Asia; peculiarly, the words came back in exact as he had uttered them as if he was seeing himself at that very moment kneeling before the shrine.
"Mother Juno, bless me with your fortitude and wisdom to withstand whatever misfortune has and will find me in the future; help with your divine hand, as you have helped Achilles of old here in the same shores, to defeat the rebels that infest this sacred land. Finally, forgive me for all the bad things I have done; for I have chosen to live dishonestly and by that decision I have offended the Immortal Gods. Mother Juno, Patron of my family, I promise to you, by my sacred oath, that if you make it so I will honour you with Games worthy of your divine Majesty; further, I shall construct a Temple to you with my own resources in Rome. This, Juno, I promise to you!" he whispered lowly with his eyes closed, remembering the moment. He had almost forgot the promise he had made to the Queen of the Gods; could this revenge from Bestia be in fact a revenge from Juno Herself, he wondered. He had not fulfilled his vow even when Juno had given him the victory he asked for. Such disrespect probably clouded his vision when he entered the office of the Proconsul and now there he was, faced with two offenses to Gods and men!
.....
The night passed troubling for Brutus and the very next morning, as he got up from his bed, having enjoyed no sleep that night, he ordered his servants to call for Servilius Ahala, Servius Anneus, Pomponius Matho and Vibius Priscus. He then accepted his clients quickly to be done with them at the time of his friends arrival.
Some hours later, the quests have arrived in Brutus's house and he had showed them in his study. Once he had expelled all servants from the room, he started by giving out his plan.
"Gentlemen, I stand as you know in the brink of the abyss. One wrong move now and we are done for." the others nodded in agreement. "Being that so, I have decided to take the bet on and bring down Calpurnius Bestia, bitterly and utterly." at the sounds of these words all present gasped, except Servilius Ahala who content to see his apprentice becoming the relentless politician he intended him to be, smiled in satisfaction. Brutus went on explaining after the short pause.
"Priscus, Labeo; I have for you the most strenuous task. I want you to travel to Asia, secretly, and gather information that will verify whether Bestia overtaxed Asia to rebellion. However, discover what were his business with the tax collector agencies there; talk to them yourselves and guarantee them that if they reveal information, Bestia alone will be held responsible, not them. Also, talk to the local nobles and see what you can find out about Bestia's behaviour. Then I want you to travel to Rhodes and convince the local archon to procede with a formal inquiry about Rhodes's shack. I want you to bribe the Rhodian in order to direct his polemic on Bestia alone, instead of us. I'll provide you with 300,000 Denarii for this reason."
"Pomponius, for you I have another task; I want you to propose in the Senate a lex of mine. The legislation will be against provincial corruption of the governors, a legislation composed as such as to affect only the case of Bestia. Once this legislation is passed, once the Rhodian has dispatched his official inquiry, once we have information on Bestia's misconduct - we shall destroy him."
"As for myself, I shall provide tomorrow a full report of the happenings during my Quaestorship in Bestia's province, denouncing the wretch for cowardice and acquiring Easter customs. I shall also denounce him for completely neglecting his duties, leaving everything in the hands of his Quaestor."
When he finished he saw everyone looking at him in awe; "You do understand," Servilius said, "that if you fail, you are done for?".
"I do. This is why I won't fail. I can't. Now, off you go; I have a meeting later today with Tiberius Gallus Augur."
Chapter VIII: JUNIUS BRUTUS EXPELLED FROM THE SENATE!
OOC: Here's something new! :P From what I've been told, I am the sole member ever expelled from the Senate in the history of RR. Gods beneath us!
The Censors Speak ~ As Arbiter
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Balearicus and his counterpart, Cnaeus Papirius Carbo, stood before the Senate with grim faces. Silence reigned as the Conscript Fathers of the Republic seemed to universally hold their breaths, waiting for what was to come. Zosimus’ words certainly did not bode well for Brutus…
“Conscript Fathers, you know me well. I have sat in this Senate for many years. I have been Consul, and Censor twice now. I conquered the Baleares Islands, for which you granted my my agnomen, Balearicus. You also know my family well, as the Caecilii Metelli are among the most revered of Consular lineages.
“Therefore, believe me when I say that Brutus’ speech strikes close to my heart. His evidence is intriguing in that it is uncorroborated by any of my friends in Asia. Much of his evidence consists of letters that he himself wrote, which translates to no real evidence at all. Most importantly, however, his comments come at a suspiciously convenient time, as just yesterday we received a dispatch from the Proconsul of Asia, Lucius Calpurnius Bestia.” The Senate murmured at that statement, and many confused faces were seen.
“The charges laid by Lucius Calpurnius are grave. Lucius Junius Brutus is alleged to have not only grossly exaggerated his accomplishments, but also to have stolen money from the coffers of the Republic, and threatened the Proconsul with bodily harm, before departing the province – without leave – to return to Rome.” The low murmur erupted into a full scale cacophony as supporters of Brutus leapt to their feet and began yelling at supporters of Bestia.
“SILENCE!” Zosimus roared, his perfect demeanor set aside to reveal a truly angry man. Several lictors were dispatched and the raucous Senate calmed. Quintus Caecilius Metellus turned and nodded to Carbo. Metellus seemed displeased overall with the decision, but said nothing. Stepping forward, Carbo addressed the Senate.
“Conscript Fathers, it is my opinion that Lucius Junius Brutus be removed from the list of Senators of Rome,” Carbo intoned grandiously. Shocked gasps were quickly stifled at a stern glance from Zosimus. “Further, I as Censor issue a public reprimand of Lucius Junius. His actions in Asia, as testified by the Proconsul, as well as his slanderous accusations here within the Curia Hostilia, show the basest of sins. Your greed, boy, has driven you mad. Your ambition has blinded you to the mos maiorum. Your behavior is completely unacceptable and unbecoming the Senate of Rome. Leave now, for you are no longer a Senator, and your presence disgraces this hallowed ground.”
Chapter IX: Disgraced but not dead yet!
========================
Mons Palatinus, Rome
========================
Lucius Brutus returned home with a terrible headache. Whatever Bestia had written in that infamous letter of his must have been pretty convincing in order for Carbo and Metellus both agree on stripping a Junius Brutus from his senatorial rank! Whatever it was, Brutus realized for the first time in two years in politics that he had found someone that not only outmatched him but who had managed to bring him down with only a letter; he would never forget the lesson he was taught in the Senate House that day. Patience. Even though that evidence of Bestia’s corruption and lies was adequate while the counter-evidence was a simple letter -a letter!-, his word being a low Aedile could not be matched with the word of Calpurnius Bestia, Proconsul of Rome. Brutus had lost.
“ I shouldn’t have done it. I shouldn’t have tried.” Brutus exclaimed aloud as he was walking his way back, his head almost hanging from his neck, his eyes fixed on the ground. “I shouldn’t have done it.” He repeated time and again, being in shock.
Reaching the safety of his House, Brutus was greeted with Anneus Labeo and Vibius Priscus leaving the house with a cart filled with gold. “Where are you going?” Brutus asked, completely lost by the oblivious news of his expulsion. “Oh, don’t tell me you are abandoning me already!”.
“Don’t you remember this morning? You told us to go to Asia and—“.
“Yes, yes…. There’s no reason for you to go now; the Censors have decreed that I should be expelled from the Senate House on the bases of corruption, theft and I think desertion, too. Bestia won; and I… I simply want to forget about my shame, gentlemen. Good day.”
“So, that was it? You’ll just wait for the final blow?” Vibius Priscus asked enraged. Brutus left the scene without answering and disappeared into his House. Later that night, Brutus was alone; he drunk and he drunk and he drunk his wine, mourning silently for his foolishness until he couldn’t even cry properly. He was broken, yes. Suddenly, Brutus burst into an uncontrollable rage; the same affliction the Romans say his great ancestor, Lucius Junius Brutus the Consul, had too judging from how easily he had put his own children to death. Throwing furniture around the house, cursing aloud to destroy Bestia even if that was the last thing he would do upon this Earth and to regain his family’s honour and respect amongst the citizens of Rome, Brutus was filled with anger and despair. And no one dared stop him from unleashing his wrath upon the poor furniture, some even being in the House more than Brutus. All servants remained silent; their faces white with terror knowing that the first man that Brutus would see in front of him would be dead. To hide at that point, the servants thought, was to live.
However, peculiarly as it had appeared, his anger and raging sorrow disappeared and Brutus was left standing at a destroyed Atrium; not even the masks of some of his ancestors survived this outbreak of violence. As nothing terrible had just happened, Brutus picked up a piece of wax that used to be the forehead of some other Junius Brutus and hold it tightly in his hands. Shaking from the rage he had released on the courtyard, his clumsy hands finally broke the miserable piece of forehead in two. Brutus, giving the pieces a last kiss of respect tossed the face all together. He didn’t need his ancestors to make his luck. He would take things on his hands from now on…
…..
The next morning Brutus rose from his bed earlier than usual, shaved and dressed in a clean warm red toga and descended to his study to wait for his morning levy. Not surprisingly, the number of his clients who came to pay their everyday’s respects had dropped to less than the half of what they were loitering around there the previous morning. “How alliances change in the darkness of the night!” Brutus exclaimed seeing how few true friends he had left; if they were at all his friends and not tied to him and for that reason couldn’t possibly switch sides overnight. Accepting them with calmness, Brutus showed them to his study where he asked the news from the city. Disastrous; his reputation was irreparably damaged with the Quality. Even Appius Terentius, hero of the Illyrian wars had grabbed the opportunity to gain the support of Brutus’s wavering supporters for himself by denouncing him in the Senate. Moreover, the common people saw in him nothing than a man that went against the system, ambitious and corrupt as hundreds of others, who simply overstretched himself and was destroyed by it in turn. They would simply forget of this Junius Brutus, nothing more and nothing less. As the last of the clients departed, some of them never to be seen again, he received two letters. The first, from Tiberius Gallus Augur wrote:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: Tiberius Gallus Augur, Quaestor of Africa
To: Lucius Junius Brutus, Aedile
Lucius Junius,
In light of the Censor’s decision, I must sadly withdraw my offer for you to meet with us in Ostia. And, though I am withdrawing my invitation, I am not withdrawing my friendship.
Work hard and well, my friend, to restore your reputation. I fully expect you one day to sit atop the Curule Dias, a wiser man but with your dignitas intact.
Yours in the service of the Republic
Ti. Gallus
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nothing strange, Brutus admitted. He was a leper now, no one would socialize with the likes of him; expelled from the House, disgraced, finished. “Friendship, he says… How men remain your friends from a safe distance!” Brutus exclaimed in disgust for his sad position and the way that his once fellow Senators abandoned him one by one. What if he had stood that day to protect Gallus and was humiliated in turn by Corvus? He had turned on him with the first opportunity. New Men! Never trustworthy... Brutus released a sigh for the turn everything took and then opened the next letter; though it came from a known man, Servilius Ahala in fact, the news written inside harmed Brutus even more than his expulsion, his loss of friends and clients and his miserable condition. The message wrote:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: Marcus Servilius Ahala
To: Lucius Junius Brutus
Lucius Brutus.
After your recent hideous display in the Senate House and your humiliating expulsion from it, I cannot in good heart continue to stand in your side. You have caused me considerable social damage with your madness as well as you have alienated yourself and your line from the Quality of Rome forever. I have decided neither to introduce you as my protégée any more nor to help you further with this raging madness. My nephew, Marcellus, is also of the same mind and has asked me to write his farewells for him as well.
You must know by now that your name is disgraced for ever and it was indeed difficult to achieve this if you consider that your line holds in its ranks the Founder of the Republic. I would propose to you the only sensible way to make things right, as a last advice from me to you. Commit suicide and let that foolish cousin of yours, Marcus, take your place. Perhaps a fool may know better than to assault a Proconsul or steal money from Rome. Do not trouble yourself with denying it; all of Rome knows that it’s the truth – and they shall hate you until the end of time for what you’ve done. Have no illusions; your sun has already set and you are a threat to set the suns of those around you, too. Be thankful that we shan’t share your misdoings you have told us shamelessly with Bestia or the Censors, thus condemning you to death. It is not that we pity you, wretch as you turned out to be, simply that we cannot deal anymore with you and keep our dignitas intact. Do well of this opportunity to dispatch of yourself by your own hand rather being thrown off the Tarquian Rock – for down there you shall go, once you have failed the elections and be open to prosecution. Die as nobility dies; by your own hand. That is if you have any thing close to the nobility your great family held left in you.
Farewell,
Servilius Ahala
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The letter wavered in Brutus’s hands. He had risked and lost everything. Or didn’t he? He wasn’t sure of anything anymore other than that he needed someone of his own kin to assist him. He should send for Marcus Brutus, the dull-witted cousin of his who failed to convince his Father of his competence to be Pater Familias and let the honour to Lucius. And there was always Marcus’s brother, Decimus, who too hadn’t manage to convince them of his ability in politics and thereafter submitted himself to studying philosophy, staying in Campania. An ideal advisor that meant. He quickly wrote the letters, inviting the two brothers to his house in Rome, explaining the situation as fully as he could. Once done with this, Brutus considered what had happened last day and how his life had changed thereafter. He was down, yes. But he was not defeated. As long as he lived there was hope – and when he would return in the Senate all those that defied him would pay…
Just before he exited his house, he called for Labeo and Priscus who had arrived with the rest of the clientele. Waiting patiently for Brutus to finish with his few remaining clients, the two men where left looking grim and depressed. Once done, Brutus spoke with them , breaking the latest news from the city and Ahala’s betrayal. Then, he said to them:
“Now, my dear friends -if so you remain-, I want you to go to Bestia’s province and find me something big to bring him down. Search everything, ask anyone, leave nothing unchecked. From your mission’s success hangs my existence;” obviously something had changed about Brutus. They remembered the “adult with the brains of a child” young Quaestor, always ready to curve a place for himself even in the thickest of stones. It wasn’t that he was demoralized; it wasn’t that he had a hangover from a night of stupefying himself with the best Falernian; through this difficult situation, by seeing anyone deserting him while a matter of days before were happy to enlist him as their friend and patron, Brutus has evolved. He wasn’t a better man necessarily but he had evolved to be something greater than the naïve and ambitious boy he was. He had left aside the pompous speeches of great plots to bring the big man down to dirt; and in its stead, a peculiar sense of dignity and righteousness in his cause had taken form. The matter was now not a simple rivalry between the “setting” sun of Bestia and the “rising” star of Brutus but a personal matter, a fierce vendetta which Brutus wouldn’t allow to be sullen by tricks and lies. No, if Bestia would be destroyed, it would be for something he had committed willingly, not something dropped on his shoulders. And the vile Proconsul would be destroyed by Brutus himself, not some third man.
“Don’t just search this or the previous year’s records, mind you. Search everything. Had Bestia something to do with degraded morals? I want to know. Had he killed, blackmailed, extorted or looted illegally while he was Praetor or Propraetor? What about his early beginnings? Did he had anything to do with trade? Did he ever accepted a bribe? How did he made his fortune? I don’t care if you find me that he stole from his Tata when he was five or if he tortured his pedagogue, as long as what he did is prosecutable, it is fine with me. Now go and be careful not to make an outrage of the investigations. Take the gold you were given yesterday and put it on good use. I want witnesses, men willing to testify in court! Go and be successful! Now, I shall take my leave. If you’ll excuse me…”
Off he went of his House, disguised so that none of the Plebs Sorditii, the dwellers of the low slum houses of the Subura or the Aventine Hill would throw shit on his toga or rocks on his head. Reaching the Porta Latina, Brutus took his horse and rode down the Latin Way towards his off-town resort in Tusculum where the meeting between the Junii Bruti would take place.
Chapter X: The Tusculum's meeting
Damnation. Damnation. Damnation.
Everything seemed to go in the opposite direction since Brutus has returned to Rome. Firstly, accused of hideous crimes – after he had spoken against the corruption of Calpurnius Bestia. Then, the plea to Caecilius Metellus had failed; that little madman, Pomponius Matho, had to open his mouth and speak against every order of silence given to him from Brutus. His dignitas was failing by the minute, his political allies turn a blind eye to this deception. Never mind, he deserved it. Servilius was right to dessert him in the first place! Who wouldn’t deserve to be outcast when he had done what Brutus has done? He was indeed innocent of the crimes alleged to him but he had no proof; how to convince the Censors? Especially now that Matho had questioned openly their reasons in the Senate. Why did he ever left that man, Matho, stand as his representative in the Senate? He’s ruined him! Such talent at denouncing everyone blindly belonged to the Rostra, not the Senate.
What now? What now?
Every effort was in vain. Soon, Lucius Brutus’s end would come, either by losing the elections and left vulnerable to men who would devour him or by falling in grace until he had hit rock bottom. There was no alternative of redemption now, no. He was done for. There was not a single hope, aside than having at least one strong ally. But whom? The people weren’t fond of Lucius Brutus. Nor were the Senate. Nor was with him any man of virtue. He hadn’t even the loyalty of some army – only the 3rd and 4th legions had at sometime accepted his orders. Damnation. His career was quickly failing and there was nothing he could do. He had chosen to act so soon instead and wait and see how things would develop; so soon. For all his age, he remained the adult with the “child’s brains”. Useless to try to repair what has been broken.
It had been a few days since Lucius Brutus had left the Senate House and settled at his house in Tusculum. There he entertained the few friends and supporters left, plus his two cousins who rushed to his call. They weren’t as he recalled them as a child; for once, Marcus Brutus “the fool”, as his family called him, was no fool at all! Unfortunately for him though, he had been born with the inability to control the nerves of his face, which wavered constantly, presenting a rather comical sight. He was also partly deaf from childhood and due to his hearing impediment he had produced a speech impediment as well. He was unable to pronounce his words correctly, neither in Greek or Latin, because he failed to hear the correct sound of the words. Nothing bothered Marcus moe than the letter ‘s’ which often he pronounced as ‘th’. However that may be, Marcus was a historian of great skill and he often made extremely clever remarks of history and how one should proceed in every situation drawing examples of similar occasions done in the past, revealing his wit and brains. “Hithstory revealths what thall happen in the fthuture and how thould a man protheed with hith buthineth… The only way for thou to avoid a thituation would be tho conthult what men hath done when fathed with a thimilar thituation.” Decimus as well weren’t as Lucius recalled him. He remembered a lean boy who was fond of philosophy – Plato, in particular and the ancient school! – but for the last eight years, Decimus has been a strict follower of sophistry; he always argued that telling believable lies would transform the truth to your case – so in a sense, you weren’t telling lies at all. So, ordering someone killed would transform into creating an accident where the Gods had the responsibility; if the man died, it wasn’t the fault of the man who ordered it at all, simply the fulfillment of Divine Will – otherwise, the Gods would intervene to save him, would they not?
The three cousins spent more and more time together progressively with Lucius altering the original opinion he held for his dear cousins. Admirably, both men were more subtle and fit for politics, with less ambition – at least if they had, they did not show it! – and more brains than to leave Pomponius Matho in the Senate! After many nightly discussions, trying to figure out a way, the Bruti finally came to a judgment. Indeed, Lucius was irreparably cut out from the Quality in Rome; that bondage would take many years to be repaired. However, having not the support of the aristocrats, Lucius Junius would turn to the common people for support. Being Aedile would give him the right for much self-presentation and with some good works for the Plebes, even better Games during the Ludi Plebeii and finally the best presented legislation on the, still opened to Lucius Brutus, Rostra things could begin to go his way.
The Bruti cousins also saw the reason for keeping a low profile for the coming years. Such displays in the Senate would take a while to be forgotten and in the meantime they should bolster Lucius’s support with the rank and file. They should also replace Pomponius from the Senate with Decimus Brutus who was much more fitting and knowing of etiquette than to attack everyone in sight. Lastly, they decided to keep on searching for the crimes of Bestia until something good has been found. Evidence was needed and without evidence, the Bruti would descent to a political “exile”, away from the spotlight while plotting their return…
Chapter XI: Leaving for Africa
======================
L. Junius Brutus's villa, Lavinium
======================
"What insolence! To be talked down by a damned Provincial! *Me*!" Lucius Brutus yelled in fury. "By all the Gods below, I curse him! May he die a despicable death!" he continued, raising a hand on the height of his heart pointing to the direction of Rome, two of his fingers outstretched to perform the ritual correctly.
"What should you do now?" Pomponius Matho inquired.
"I shall leave Italy. I shall leave Rome and politics and everything good and decent - I don't need Rome!" Brutus continued pacing back and forth the room, his feet's speed revealing his anger.
"But where will you go?" Matho asked again. "What will you do with yourself?"
"I shall got to Athens and there study philosophy and discuss the matters of the soul with men learned and wise, not with piss-drinking sons of a whore like that scum Terentius! To hell with him, and the Censors and the Consuls and everyone of them! *I HATE THEM*!" Lucius screamed, standing still at last.
...
"Do you know what would please me immensely?" Brutus calmly asked after some moments of silence. "Bestia's head right here between my feet. I vow that I will piss on it and then play with it by kicking it arround!"
"You will try to murder him?" Matho exclaimed in horror.
"Why not? I am lost anyway; a thief, a deserter, a lier! Why not a murderer as well?" Brutus replied.
"Don't give up! There's still hope for you, Lucius! What if the Censors find that you are indeed innocent???" Matho tried to calm Brutus.
"Even if they did, there are the Rhodians. One word from them and the whole case goes down the river! No, there's no redemption by law at this point. I was a fool to believe that there would be!"
"Are you set to go to exile then?"
"Indeed I am, my dear friend. There's no coming back now. I have said so in the Rostra before the People of Rome - and I intent to keep my word. Is the gold ready?"
"It is. Can I make a suggestion then?" Matho asked. "Please do." Matho stood and approached Lucius, his hands around his neck, holding it in place firmly, his eyes locked to his. "Go to Africa."
"Africa? Why on Gaia's earth would I want to go there?" Brutus asked, puzzled.
"Lucius, don't you see? War is comming! Send a letter to Metellus! Explain him everything, all that has happened! Ask him humbly to accept you in his stuff and then fight to regain your honour! Come back a war hero not as some low thief ousted from his home city!" Lucius Brutus thought a while on the proposal.
"Africa then." Brutus said to Matho.
"Africa then." Matho repeated.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: Lucius Junius Brutus, Aedile
To: Q. Caecilius Metellus, Proconsul of Africa
Your Honour,
You may have not heard the news of my pityful condition, so let me explain to you what has happened. Last year, I was stationed as Quaestor in the province of Lucius Calpurnius Bestia. The man ordered me to go and fight the pirates, which I did to the best of my abilities, and after that, I was ordered to come back to Asia from Rhodes where the fleet of the Rebublic was stationed. Once there, I kindly asked the Proconsul command of three legions to begin the operations against the rebels active on the province; he gave it to me. With command over three legions, I firstly besieged the town of Smyrna, which I took by assault, and then together with Bestia, we devised a plan to trap the remaining rebels. We were successful and the rebellion ended in a bloody battle close to Pergamum, atop a low hill. By the end of my command of the battle of Pergamum, Lucius Bestia required my presence in his Proconsular palace. There, once I gave to Bestia a big portion of the money I have earned from selling the greek slaves, he demanded that I would also keep my peace as he claimed my victory as his and once back in Rome propose him for Triumph. I made the single error to refuse him but you must understand that my rejection wasn't intended to undermine his authority; I would be more than ecstatic to propose him for Triumph and I would praise his name in the Senate and else if he had only done something by himself, if he had but left his palace to join us in our marches and lead us to battle. But he didn't and it fell to me as the second ranking officer in his province to carry on with his duties. So, acting to what I thought to be honest and just, I refused to give in to his blunt blackmail.
He did and said nothing else then but accepted the cut from the slaves profits and discharged me. But when I returned back to Rome from Asia, I found out that he had sent a letter not only acussing me of theft but also of exaggerating my role in the rebellion and on top of that trying to murder him. So believable he had devised the plot that I was immediately ousted from the Senate without even given the opportunity to speak against these alleged crimes. While some of the Senators reacted to this outrage, the Censors remained adamand. To my bad luck's addition, I made the mistake of letting one of my associates in my stead; young man, full of vim and vigour as he was, he couldn't let some of the Senators throwing mud on my name without the smallest piece of evidence go on. He spoke and in his words, he carried doubt about the justice of the Censors decision to expell me outright without a chance to answer the Senate as well as he replied to the slander of one of my attackers. Of course, the Censors didn't recieve the comments of judgement too well nor the slander war breaking loose in the Senate and threatened to expel him as well! So, failed to persuade them in any other way to see the truth, I paid from my own finances the money Bestia claimed that I had stolen and on top of that, I have also given an interest in my efford to demonstrate to all that I cared not of funds but I did care of my good name and reputation. I gave totally the sum of eight hundred thousand if you add the original two hundred thousand I had dispatched to the Senate after the victory in Pergamum and then left Rome, ashamed by all these charges and attacks.
Proconsul, I beg you. Now that you have heard how low I have fell from this ingenious plot, I beg you to help me. Let me come to Africa and join your stuff in order to regain my honour. I put my life and my good name and reputation to your hands entirely; I humbly ask you to have me. I have some military experience and I would do my best and more, without seeking personal glory or else but fight valiantly in your name. I swear to you on all my ancestors that I am innoncent of the charges thrown at me; let me regain my honour by fighting for your grace. I'll be staying at my farm in Capua for the following months, awaiting your reply. If though you are doubtful of my intentions, I swear to you now that I shan't betray or fail your trust in me nor shall I forget your favour. I'll be eternaly to your debt, should you let me fight along side you for the glory of the Republic and my own personal redemption.
With Regards,
Lucius Junius Brutus
Chapter XII: A stop in Sicily
===========================================
Sicilian shore, close to city of Lilybaeum
===========================================
Lucius Junius Brutus has been at sea for many days. He didn't like it. Much to the contempt of the ship carrying him to Africa, the jounior officer of Metellus has spent his time at the port, vomiting constantly. Finally, due to the captain's mercy -or was it lack of supplies?- the ship stopped close to the city of Lilybaeum for resupply and a few nights rest.
"Be there soon." Captain Marcus Antilles approached Brutus, extending a flagon of wine to the poor man. He took it willingly only to vomit once more, from the terrible taiste of the foul vinegar this time. Antilles looked offended but Lucius turned with a pale smile. "Your forgiveness, captain. My stomach is too weak now to accept such a good wine. I suggest we drink it some other time.". Antilles smiled back, nodding to Lucius; "Cer'tnly, cer'ntly. Dun't mind me saying so m' lad but how comes a type of yers being out her' in the wilds? Searchin' for something, is it?". Captain Antilles has touched the sensitive spot; Lucius took a deep breather and then turned his gave towards the distant landmass of Africa - or where it was supposed to be, Brutus couldn't see it. "I am going there," Brutus begun to explain, extending his finger to point towards Africa, "to take part in the war. I hope to redeem my name.". "Aye, yer name. And what might that be?" Antilles asked curiously. "I know that ye refused giving yer true name - only yers signet ring. What animal was that by the way? Ye know, the bird with it's arse on fire?" Antilles asked, giving back the signet ring Brutus had given him on the beginning of their journey. Brutus took the ring and wore it on his fourth finger once more. "You were supposed to give this to me on delivery to Africa, Marc |
